Lunch with a panoramic view of Chalkida

On the drive upwards the hill to the Xenia Club we come across a few couples who walk hand in hand, groups of friends and parents with children who are having a stroll enjoying their Sunday outing . It is cold but the sun is out and in Greece people cannot easily stay indoors unless there is a serious reason. They are out trying to forget for a while the daily routine with the big cuts in their salaries or a possible unemployment. They are these people you will find in bars sitting for hours behind a cup of coffee or a beer, simply because they are out to forget for a while how the ones who govern the country led the country's economy fall into pieces. I don't believe there are many of the ones who govern us who still have their money in a bank Account in the country. I am glad that Greeks know well how to fill in their batteries and what I admire is how they support each other in times of difficulties with the exception of the rulers.

There are many cars parked next to the pavement on both sides - a sign that the Club Restaurant might be full. I remember when we were here this summer how beautiful it was with the seats outside under the shade of umbrellas and the pine trees around . The picture is very different now, the umbrellas are closed and everything is moved indoors to the main building which I dare say impressed me that time.

Yes, it is just as I expected it, crowded but lovely. At first we don’t find a nice seat but the girl promises to keep for us the first vacant table at the sun lounge as soon as somebody leaves. The side wall is all made of double glazed windows to keep the room warm and the light in. At first we get a seat close to the second bar but it is not long before a couple leaves and the competent waiter sets a clean table cloth and calls us to go to the sun lounge for our lunch. The building is mostly a stone-built structure!

The interior décor is nice and impressive, the ambience beautiful and the music soft and pleasing to the ears. The people coming here are not only from the round area but from Athens as well. I don’t know why or how but I can always tell those coming from Athens . Probably because they are dressed differently, -men wearing sport jackets climbing boots and women, wearing gloves, long woolen scarves and hats with long pullovers. Locals on the other hand are smartly dressed especially the ladies who appear in high heels and they look so trendy and beautiful following the latest fashion.

The economic crisis in Greece makes everyone consider the least penny spent and honestly speaking I did not expect the club to be full with everything that is happening in the country. I ask to see the pricelist before ordering anything and indeed I find reasonable prices, so this is probably why it is so popular. Of course its location can be another reason.

The age of its fan followers or customers vary. There are not only youngsters but grown ups as well. As we make ourselves comfortable and order our bottle of wine I watch the staff - a group of youngsters who seem alert and competent . They are always on the go carrying trays or giving out the bills. In minutes the tables are cleaned and the seats are ready to welcome the next customers.

We have the "Beer variety" (appetizers) as it is called, which nicely accompanies the wine we ordered. I believe we would have asked for beer instead if we had this same dish in summer. The plate brought to us with the different appetizers is really huge and at first I believed that half the portion will remain untouched but we ate everything because it was surprisingly delicious. We had planned to have a light snack since we are having seafood dinner much later this evening.

 Having no intention at all for an afternoon nap I asked for an espresso and Yianni has a Greek coffee with some chocolate cake accompanied by some ice cream. How could we get a nap and ignore the beautiful view we have from our balcony of the waterfront on the left and the mountain range of Dirfy on the right with its peak covered in snow!!

It is 4 p .m. when we leave the restaurant for the hotel while people keep coming and going all these two hours that we are out here. In all I can say we had a good time and look forward to coming again this summer ….probably trying one of their cocktails and try their pizzas or pasta dishes this time!


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As I was reading the entry again and before downloading my pictures I feel I have to write that in some photos you will see people smoking. Because I am sure many will wonder if smoking is forbidden inside restaurants in Greece, I can say that I would be the first one to leave the place if the ventilation system hadn’t been working well here. Personally, I cannot stand the smell and the worst it is the awful smell of smoke that remains on the clothes. There was hardly any smell in the room and I would not have noticed it if I hadn’t seen some people smoking.